Matchbox - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A matchbox is a small cardboard box designed to hold matches. It typically has a rough strip on the side for striking matches to light them. Matchboxes are commonly used for starting fires or lighting candles.
Definition:
A small cardboard box containing matches for lighting fires or cigarettes.
Synonyms:
match container, match holder, tinderbox
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
lighter, firestarter
Common Collocations:
strike a match, open the matchbox, carry a matchbox
Derivatives:
matchboxes, matchbox-sized
Usage Tips:
Use "matchbox" to refer to the container, not the matches inside it.
Common Phrases:
strike a match, light a fire, keep in a matchbox
Etymology:
Derived from "match" (combustible stick) + "box" (container), first recorded in the 19th century.
Examples:
- 1. She found an old matchbox in the drawer.
- 2. He lit the candle with a match from the matchbox.
- 3. The tiny car was no bigger than a matchbox.
- 4. Keep the matches dry inside the matchbox.